Fitness Ratings

Ensuring you are on a Ride that's right for you, and ensuring you are ready for the physical and technical demands of a Ride, is of utmost importance to us. It helps ensure that you will be riding with people of similar skill level and won't be holding up the group or be held up by others - and can ride at the pace you want to ride at.

This is a challenge for the whole mountain bike adventure industry, but here's how we're addressing this issue:

We've developed a 9-point skill and fitness rating system, with the help of one of our senior coaches and guides (see below)

Our Singletrack and Bring-Your-Partner Rides require an application before booking; applications are reviewed by our staff prior to allowing anyone to join one of these Rides.

We follow up with a phone call if we think an applicant might not be quite up to the challenge (or might be 'over qualified') and discuss their skill level and fitness in detail to discover if they are indeed a good fit for the Ride applied for, or if another one might be more suitable

And finally, if people do slip through and end up on a Ride that is too challenging for them, we'll add a 3rd guide to the trip (if available, and they usually are) so that the main group can ride at their preferred pace (with 2 guides) while the 3rd guide rides with the slower group - everyone's happy!

Please read the following guidelines carefully, and pick the levels that best describe your skill and fitness. If you are unsure if a trip is right for you, please contact us. If you are interested in taking part in one of our Singletrack or Bring-Your-Partner adventures but aren't quite ready yet, consider signing up for one of our Explorer Rides.

Level 1

You are somewhat of a couch potato.

You cannot ride for more than an hour on flat terrain at a time, and the thought of climbing on a bike is daunting.

You exercise less than 1 hour per week.

Level 2

You live a fairly sedentary life with little physical activity other than walking.

You can handle a 1-hour bike ride on flat terrain at a relaxed pace. Small, short hills are challenging to climb, but manageable.

You exercise on average at least 1 hour per week (including riding/being active).

Level 3

You are capable of riding 1-2 hours a day at a relaxed pace with several breaks.

You can handle one or two easy climbs of up to 150 vertical metres (330 ft.) total.

You exercise on average 1-2 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 4

You can ride 2-3 hours at a moderate pace with several short breaks, over a few days.

You are capable of climbing up to 200 vertical metres (650 ft.) in a day.

You exercise on average 2-3 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 5

You are capable of riding 4 hours a day at a moderate pace with some short breaks,over a few days.

You are confident climbing up to a total of 300 vertical metres (1,000 ft.) in a day.

You exercise on average 4-5 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 6

You can ride 5 hours a day at a moderate pace with some short breaks, over a few days.

You can handle moderately steep climbs of up to a total of 500 vertical metres (1,650 ft.) in a day.

· You exercise on average 5-6 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 7

You can ride 5-6 hours a day at a moderately fast pace with a few breaks, over many days.

You can handle moderately steep climbs up to 750 vertical metres (2,450 ft) in a day.

You exercise on average 7-8 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 8

You can ride up to 7 hours a day at a fast and steady pace over several days.

You have little trouble climbing 1,000 vertical metres (3,280 ft.) in a day on steep terrain.

You exercise on average 8-10 hours per week (including riding/being active).

Level 9

You can ride up to 8 hours a day over several days, and tackle almost any climb the mountain throws your way.

You can handle steep, sustained climbs of up to 1,500m (4,920 ft) in a day.